Medical Outreach Partnership

This summer, Vision Africa President and Founder Bishop Sunday N. Onuoha joined a mission meeting in Plano, Texas, to discuss the dire need for primary health care facilities in Nigeria. The meeting with the Four Corners Ministry of St. Andrew United Methodist Church revealed a common interest in solving the age-old problem of bringing basic health care to those in need.

Inspired by similar visions and believing in the power of partnerships, Vision Africa and Four Corners have joined forces to establish a pilot medical center project in Nigeria.

Working with one of the world's leading experts in developing medical facilities, the pilot project will apply modern business principles and unmatched medical expertise to Vision Africa's well-established community approach to health care. Nigeria can benefit enormously from better access to primary health care that's high quality and sustainable.

Bishop Sunday's home state of Abia is one of the most densely populated areas of Nigeria and the people there face many hardships. Chief among them is a lack of access to good doctors and good medicine.

As you read in the Spring Newsletter, Vision Africa's leadership and volunteers in the U.S. and Nigeria have spent many years drawing up plans and raising funds for Phase 1 of the Vision Africa Medical Center. Starting with a hostel to house mission teams participating in medical outreach ministries, and following through to a fully-functioning medical facility. The government of Abia State in Nigeria donated a significant parcel of land for the project, and Bishop Sunday is overseeing efforts to prepare the land for construction

To this effort, our new partner Four Corners brings an incredible perspective and background in medical business and a shared heart for sharing the gospel in concrete ways through the gift of medicine.

The partnership is new and we will continue to work out details of the pilot medical center project. We appreciate your prayers, thoughts and support as we endeavor to find a new path to sustainable, indigenous solutions for Africa's health crises.

Football Monday

For years, people have recognized the power of sports to bring people together, to cross social and religious barriers and to promote peace.

Bishop Sunday Onuoha dedicates a whole chapter in his book to this phenomenon. The good Bishop is particularly impressed by the power of football to touch young people's lives.

The venerable, world-wide media outlet Voice of America recently took a look at a large movement of soccer-playing youths promoting reconciliation and understanding among young people.

Do you think something as simple as a soccer game can create positive social change?

WHO and Gates Fighting Polio in Nigeria

As discussed in a previous post, the World Health Organization covered three main issues in the recent World Health Assembly meeting.

The fight against Polio, one of the top issues discussed, is centered on Nigeria right now. Ongoing polio eradication is a tough task because of the nature of the disease, but developed and developing nations alike have shown it possible to wipe out the crippling infection.

Bill Gates has dedicated enormous resources to stop polio in Nigeria and West Africa. Vision Africa founder Bishop Sunday Onuoha was invited to meet with Mr. Gates on this issue during his recent visit to the country. While they had conflicting schedules and could not meet, the ever growing focus on public health in Africa's largest country has led to some visionary efforts from courageous leaders.

Stay tuned to this space for more news about Vision Africa's public health efforts.

Nigeria at the World Health Assembly

Every year, the World Health Organization gathers some of the top minds in medicine and healthcare from around the globe to discuss the major public health issues of the day.

The 63rd World Health Assembly concluded recently and the venerable Nigeria Health Watch blog has a run down of the most important issues discussed.

Perhaps the most pressing health issue for Nigeria, eradicating malaria received priority mention when the Nigerian Minister of Health Addressed the assembly.

Nigeria's unprecedented anti-malaria campaign depends heavily upon the leadership of Vision Africa founder Bishop Sunday Onuoha and the Nigerian Inter-Faith Action Association, and it is exciting to know that the efforts are being discussed among the World Health Assembly.

Bsp. Sunday Onuoha Statement on the Passing of President Yar'Adua

Following the death of Nigeria's democratically elected President, Umaru Yar'Adua, Bishop Dr. Sunday N. Onuoha shares his thoughts:

"Nigeria has lost a man who was deeply committed to the rule of law and an honest mind."

-- Bishop Sunday N. Onuoha
Vision Africa Ministries

The Compass

Equipping Young Pastors with Bibles

In the bush of Africa, young pastors often have no books, no Internet, and sometimes, no Bible. Only their faith and relationship with Jesus Christ guide them.

Bishop Sunday Onuoha, founder of Vision Africa, experienced these challenges first-hand as a young minister in Nigeria and he recalls that his bible was his only resource through many long days and many quiet nights. He found the Word to be his library, his road map and his compass. That's why Vision Africa's ministries start in the smallest, simplest way: the Bible.

Through our Compass program, we invite young people who receive their first Bible to “turn and give” a bible to a pastor in the bush of Africa.

The Methodist Seminary in Nigeria will ordain 180 new pastors this summer, and for most of the young ministers this simple NIV study bible will be their only library and their only tool in the mission fields.

Third graders who receive a bible from their church, teens who receive a bible at Confirmation, or Vacation Bible Schools with special mission projects can provide these 180 young pastors with Bibles as a resource and Compass for mission.

Again this year, Vision Africa can purchase and distribute a sturdy leather bible to a newly ordained pastor in Nigeria for $50.

Equipping a pastor with a quality bible as a Compass for guiding ministry to others can also be an evangelistic opportunity for adult Sunday school classes, Men’s and Women’s circles, or a congregational Communion offering. Vision Africa offers many opportunities for helping to build the Christian community.

Through these ministries and others, Vision Africa builds Nigeria's indigenous capacity for positive change. Through life-saving medical outreach in the field, inspirational messages of peace on Love 104.1 FM, and community-building leadership training, Vision Africa gives people hope.

You can visit www.visionafrica.org to learn more about the ministries that penetrate deep in the heart of Africa’s largest country.